Back to rc after 15 years.. Need radio advice

Ok gents,

Once again I come here seeking for your help and expertise, because I really don't know what I'm really doing..

A bit about me first. I love aviation since I was a baby, and I've been doing almost only things related to aviation all my life. Modeler as a kid, learned how to fly (PPL) at 17, big into flight simulators (military mainly) for all my teenage and adult years)..

I started RC as a step after my modeling passion, and built and flew (a little) a Midwest 60 mustang back before 2000..

I have stopped RC for more than 15 years, and now, having time and money for it, I want to be back at it. I'm totally fascinated by the new scale foamies, as they seem to regroup my passion for modeling details, and flying !

Long story short, since I live nearby a nice a calm lake, I recently ordered a dynam Catalina that I will use as a "refresher" to see how well I can still fly those things . I'm not too afraid, but having a huge runway with no boundaries, will be good, at first..

Next, at the end of the months, I'll get a FMS 1450 Mustang, because I'm in love with that airplane

Anyway, to the point.. I need to get a new 2.4ghz radio... It seems to be the stuff these days, and it's understandable !

But I need your help ! I just don't know what to buy, and in what price range.. Do I need to buy the very expensive stuff if I am to fly regularly, or would the mid range stuff be enough ? How many channels should I get ? I was thinking getting a 7channel would be a minimum, for what I intend to do, but should I get more ?

The shop I get my things here in Switzerland seems to have a-ok proces for futaba, for example... Is this brand still good to go ?

Sorta like different automobile brands - some love one, some another. Usually going with the most popular brand for your local is a good bet. That way there are more folks to help you that are familiar with your equipment and likely more local choices for compatible components. Futaba is great I'm sure, but in the area I fly in, it is rare, so not much is known about it. Much more JR and Spektrum equipment being used. It seems like there are so many more choices of compatible receivers for the 2.4 spektrum systems. It's really a shame that more brands have not standardized on one system or another, but that's just the way it is and is likely to stay.

Plus I didn't know this shop which is like 10min from where I live !!!

The DX8 is a great radio with a lot of capabilities that you can grow into. I can't imagine you will be needing more than 8 channels for quite a while. You might want to ask your local shop what they see as the advantage of one radio brand vs another that might uncover some issues that we don't see here in the USA. Here it is just a matter of choice and once you get started with one brand, you tend to stay with it because you are familiar with the programming and feel.
I used to visit Switzerland often when I was still in the business world and absolutely love the place!! Good hunting on your radio.

It kind of depends on what type of planes you want to fly. If you are interested in Almost Ready to Fly planes where you install the receiver then either Spektrum or Futaba, whichever you like best, Futaba is probably the better built of the two. If you would like to get some of the nice Bind and Fly model planes then Spektrum is the way to go, that is what gets many beginners to go with Spektrum, plus the receivers are less expensive than Futaba and there are cheaper clone receivers for Spektrum as well.

I have the DX8, prices are probably good now because it is being discontinued. If you went with Spektrum I would recommend the new DX9, a much nicer radio with more features than the DX8.

The most important advice I would give though is that you plan to stay in the hobby and fly bigger or more scale planes, something beyond Park Flyers, is that you get the best radio with the most channels you can afford, maybe even push your budget a little beyond what you think you can afford. The radio is the heart of your system and will be used for all your planes. Buy once and keep it for years.

Good pieces of advices. I intend to fly mostly warbirds, probably only foamies because I don't want to fly at a dedicated field, but from my home, and it seems that foamies btw just perfect for that.

I don't think I'll fly more than 1450mm planes.. Maybe 1700mm, sometimes.. I think 8 channels will be enough.. Also, if I ever want to get more, I could always sell the transmitter and get some of my money back.

I would gladly get a Dx9, but I have a hard time finding one apparently. And is the price difference really worth it ?

I believe the Dx9 has more flexible programming capabilities, like programming any function to any switch, knob, even the control sticks, I think. Also it has pretty much unlimited model memory possibilities, versus the only (only! LOL!) 30 models in the Dx8.